Chard went into this top of the table clash with playing resources stretched paper thin to a bare eleven including Nathan Bradshaw playing only his second senior game, Wil Vickery making his 3rd team debut and Jacob Searle called in at the last minute to play only his second ever game of hockey. That the result was so close is a testament to the commitment and unstinting effort put in by everyone in the team.

Chard took the lead on the quarter hour with their first meaningful venture into the Vale D. Flynn Bowie got to the back line and pulled a cross into the path of Bradshaw who coolly lifted the ball over the prone keeper and into the net. Further clear goal scoring chances were few and far between but Vale were also struggling to find the target, promising attacking moves lacking an accurate pass at the crucial moment. Chard were nevertheless indebted to Tony Millett who sprinted out of his D, diving to sweep the ball away with his stick when a deflected pass put Vale's centre forward through with only the keeper to beat. Given the pressure which the home side were able to apply, it was not entirely surprising when, with three minutes to half time, one of their attacks clicked and they had their equaliser.

Much of Chard's best moves of the first half originated with captain Gary Wheaton at centre half. From the start of the second, Vale man marked him to stifle this source of creativity. Chard still managed to stay competitive, Luc Brown combining well with Vickery on the left to set up some promising attacks, while Reuben Willis was an ever present threat down the right and the ever willing Bowie kept running in behind the Taunton defence on the same flank to pose them problems. Bradshaw and Alfie Baker-Pike also kept working away at the centre of attack keeping the home defence on its toes.

Vale grabbed the lead courtesy of a follow up cross shot being deflected into the net off Millett after his initial save and they enjoyed more of the attacking play in the second period. However, shots off target and the ball evading the crucial final touch kept the difference between the teams to a single goal and Alan Cheffey went agonisingly close to an equaliser from close range when presented with a chance by Wheaton from the most promising of Chard's penalty corners. Vale went close late on to extending their lead but a shot from the top of the D struck the post.